The End of a Chapter

After more than four years of working at ICASA, I have decided to leave the company. Today was my last day there, and on Monday I will start a job at SAIC in Albuquerque. Things seem to be changing a lot faster than I had anticipated, but I'm excited about this job-change.

A couple of weeks ago, SAIC offered me a job as a Technical Writer Intern for the Albuquerque Business Unit. I have actually been working on getting this job since the beginning of October, and it was finalized two weeks ago. Steve and I had already discussed whether or not I should take the job, and we both agreed that it would probably be the best thing to do, not only career-wise, but for us as well. So, I accepted the offer, and told ICASA that December 1 would be my last day.

It's been a weird week. I've been frantically trying to finish projects and "train" coworkers on tasks that I do that need to be done. I knew that today was my last day, but it never really sank in that I was actually going to leave. ICASA has been part of my life for the last four years, it's hard to imagine my life not working at ICASA. Most people at ICASA are not just my coworkers, they are my friends too. I've developed great friendships there that I treasure. I had often talked about quitting before, but I never did anything about it. There was a point at one time that I thought I would be working for ICASA forever!! Guess God had other plans!

So today was it, my last day at ICASA. It was a nice day - to got to socialize, they had a going away lunch for me, and I got lots of nice gifts! At the end of the day, I cleaned up my desk. I didn't realize how much I "decorated" my desk. I filled an entire box with stuff, and when I was done packing, my corner of the room looked really bare. I think my decorations added life to the Intern Pit, which is the name of the office that I shared with five other interns. It was a bit sad packing up and turning in my badge. My badge has been a source of stress for the last four years because I'm really good at misplacing it. I'm proud to say, however, that I have never outright lost it. I've always been able to find it.

Sigh...so today I left ICASA, and on Monday I go to work at SAIC. The first day will be filled with orientation stuff, but it's a start to what I hope will be another great work experience just like ICASA. Maybe it will be better! Who knows. And then again... I may hate the new job. I'm doubting that though.

I'll have to write more about the job once I start. This is a big change in my life, and both Steve and I are excited about this change. Pray for the best!

~Carmelita